Sale summary: 70 bulls sold; top price $19,000; average price $9542; 100pc clearance.
The Moyle family wasn't able to be present in person for the second sale they've held at Roma but at least they were able to watch on from Victoria as their Pathfinder Angus bulls brought spirited bidding.
This year's average almost doubled that of their inaugural sale at Roma in 2019.
Andrew and Cathie Fernie from Riverview Cattle Co at Clermont had a very productive trip south, outlaying $19,000 for the top-priced bull and snapping up six bulls in all.
Their top money was for Pathfinder Commando P1174, described as a heifer bull, whose figures were in the top 1 per cent for calving ease and top 2 per cent for gestation length.
The first of the two-year-old bulls into the ring, the son of US semen donor EF Commando 1366, renowned for siring Australian breed record holder Millah Murrah Paratrooper, was firmly in the Fernie's sights.
He weighed 906kg, had an eye muscle area of 136 square centimetres, and semen morphology of 85 per cent.
It was the first time the Fernies had purchased at the Roma sale, having tried Pathfinder genetics from the Topstock sale at Barcaldine, and Mr Fernie said he found they hung on well and kept their conditions through the dry, and were very fertile.
Breeding for the Jap Ox market, they've found that of the Angus, Brahman and Charolais cattle they run, it was the Angus offspring that calved first.
"They're the ones that we make our most money from," Mr Fernie said.
Riverview also purchased the bull before him in the catalogue, Pathfinder Legacy P1500 for $18,000.
At 22 months he weighed 892kg, had an EMA of 135sq cm, a scrotal circumference of 42cm, and semen morphology of 85pc.
The Fernies paid an average of $14,833 for six bulls at the sale.
Also outlaying $18,000 was GM Pedersen and Son, Wyseby, Rolleston, for Pathfinder Lakewood P1251.
He weighed 884kg, had rib and rump fat measurements of 13mm and 11mm, an EMA of 134sq cm and semen morphology of 85pc.
Robert Pedersen said he and the three others they purchased for an average $12,750 would go over Santa Gertrudis-Limousin cross heifers.
"We've never had black bulls before but we're trying to find something with a smaller calving weight and therefore less problems there.
He said Pathfinder Lakewood probably had a bit more fleshing on him.
"He was one of the best in the yard, in my opinion.
"If you look at the catalogue there was probably $2000-$3000 more for bulls with low birthweight characteristics - you could see it reflected in the price."
Prominent Roma sale toppers Kindee Pastoral were active online at the sale, finishing with seven bulls for an average of $11,857.
Australian Country Choice were not far behind them, outlaying an average $11,200 for five bulls.
The sale had 32 registered bidders present while there were 20 bidders registered online with Elite.
Elite's Chris Norris said there were 86 viewing the sale and 13pc of the catalogue sold to online bidders.
- Selling agent: TopX, interfaced with Elite Livestock Auctions